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Showing posts from November, 2019

How Long Does It Take For Food to Spoil When Power Goes Out?

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How long does it take for food to spoil when the power goes out? In this article we will break down the amount of time different types of food can last without refrigeration, along with tips to keep your food from spoiling or remain cool throughout a power outage.  How Long Does Food Last? No matter what you do, keep the fridge door closed. According to the USDA guide Keeping Food Safe During an Emergency, a standard fridge keeps food safe for four hours during the power outage as long as the door as closed. Problems begin after that. A standard fridge keeps food at 35 to 38°F; once food rises above 40 degrees, then spoilage begins. Perishable food, including meat, fish, eggs, poultry, and other leftovers, begin to go bad.  Other foods that run the risk of going bad for more than two hours of exposure to temperatures above 40 degrees include cheeses (soft, shredded, and low-fat varieties), dairy (milk, cream, and yogurt), cut fruits and cooked pasta. Click here for a

Don't Use Candles During a Power Outage. Do This Instead

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When the power goes out, the first instinct is to light up some candles for easy illumination. (Many across California are doing that at the time of this writing in October 2019, when more than 2 million lost power ). It's a quick, easy way to light up the darkness, and provides a quaint, 19th-century vibe. It's also one of the worst fire hazards and a major cause of death in a power outage. "Candles are wonderful, but they tip over, and they can cause a fire,” says Jim Judge, EMT-P, CEM, member of the American Red Cross Scientific Advisory. They also don’t provide strong light." Keeping an open flame in a house is a bad idea. It's a worse idea in the dark, when candle holders can be easily tipped over. Really, the only reason for using a candle in a power outage is a lack of preparedness; LED-powered lights are very inexpensive and last for hours. If there are no other alternatives than candles available, then place them in a lantern to prevent t

Riding Out a Power Outage: Keep Your Refrigeration, Cooking, Lighting, and Phone Running Without Electricity

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In late October 2019, Pacific Gas & Electric Co. and South California Edison shut down power for more than 2 million California residents. The shutdown comes on the heels of an October 8 blackout, when PG&E cut power to 800,00 homes in an attempt to prevent the risk of wildfire in the wake of projected severe wind events hitting the state. Power outages--planned or unplanned--seem to be on the rise. How can you prepare for when all the lights go out and entire cities are plunged into darkness? It turns out that riding out a power outage isn't that hard. All you have to do is make sure that you prepare for non-grid solutions to the following problems: Refrigeration, Cooking, Lighting, and Phone Charging. We will recommend solutions to all four here. Refrigeration One of the biggest worries during a power outage is whether the electricity will come back on in time to start up your fridge or freezer and save food from spoiling. Perishable food starts

Don't Use Candles During a Power Outage. Use These Alternatives Instead

When the power goes out, the first instinct is to light up some candles for easy illumination. (Many across California are doing that at the time of this writing in October 2019, when more than 2 million lost power ). It's a quick, easy way to light up the darkness, and provides a quaint, 19th-century vibe. It's also one of the worst fire hazards and a major cause of death in a power outage. "Candles are wonderful, but they tip over, and they can cause a fire,” says Jim Judge, EMT-P, CEM, member of the American Red Cross Scientific Advisory. They also don’t provide strong light." Keeping an open flame in a house is a bad idea. It's a worse idea in the dark, when candle holders can be easily tipped over.  Really, the only reason for using a candle in a power outage is a lack of preparedness; LED-powered lights are very inexpensive and last for hours. If there are no other alternatives than candles available, then place them in a lantern to prevent them from tippin